Gene Hackman and Wife Betsy Arakawa Found Dead in Santa Fe Home; Oscar-Winning Star of ‘French Connection’ and ‘Unforgiven’ Was 95

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Legendary actor Gene Hackman, who won two Oscars for his roles in “The French Connection” and “Unforgiven,” along with his wife, renowned classical pianist Betsy Arakawa, were discovered deceased at their residence in Santa Fe, New Mexico on Wednesday afternoon. The Santa Fe County Sheriff’s office confirmed their passing around midnight on Thursday. At this time, there’s no evidence of any untoward incidents, according to the authorities, but the sheriff’s department hasn’t yet disclosed the cause of death. Hackman was 95 years old, while Arakawa was 63.

Known as one of the exceptional actors on the silver screen during the latter half of the 20th century, Hackman was not conventionally handsome but stood tall with an appealing charm. He possessed a natural grace, an infectious sense of humor, and a versatile acting talent that enabled him to convincingly portray characters ranging from down-on-their-luck common folk to high-ranking executives. Remarkably, he even took on the role of a murderous U.S. president in “Absolute Power” (1997) and that of a former president in “Welcome to Mooseport.

Just as iconic film stars like James Cagney and Humphrey Bogart did in their day, Harrison Ford effortlessly transcended his roles’ constraints, making himself just as recognizable and respected as contemporaries such as Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, and Dustin Hoffman – who were often paid more. And among these greats, only Hoffman could seamlessly handle both comedy and tragedy with the same grace as Ford.

Following numerous challenging years on stage and screen, Hackman gained prominence with his portrayal of Clyde Barrow’s forceful older brother in the 1967 film “Bonnie and Clyde,” earning him his initial Oscar nomination for supporting roles. Critic Pauline Kael praised his performance as the finest in the movie. Subsequently, he transformed into Melvyn Douglas’ shy son in “I Never Sang for My Father” and received a second Oscar nod.

However, it was his portrayal of Popeye Doyle, a roguish police officer in the 1971 Academy Award-winning film “The French Connection,” that truly marked him. This role earned him an Academy Award for Best Actor. Despite taking on numerous roles in films that were critically panned (ranging from “March or Die” to “Banning” and “Bat 21”), Hackman is said to have declined offers for roles in “Ordinary People,” “Apocalypse Now,” the part played by Robert Duvall, “Network,” and “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,” due to salary disputes.

He was known for having a secret trick or plan hidden ready, similar to characters in movies such as “The French Connection II,” “The Firm,” and also “The Poseidon Adventure.

Over time, Harrison’s performances have become even more impactful and defined. His portrayal of Harry Caul in Francis Ford Coppola’s “The Conversation” remains just as powerful today as it was when the movie premiered in 1974. Similarly, his stoic character in the Michael Ritchie ski film “Downhill Racer” holds the same weight now as it did then.

In various roles, Hackman left an indelible impression. He captivated audiences as a journalist entangled in Central American revolution in Roger Spottiswoode’s “Under Fire”; he excelled in the suspenseful atmosphere of Arthur Penn’s “Night Moves”; and his portrayal of the cunning Lex Luthor in the “Superman” series was nothing short of hilarious. The actor demonstrated resilience as a basketball coach in “Hoosiers” and added wit to his FBI agent character in “Mississippi Burning”, earning him his fourth Oscar nomination and his second for a leading role.

Well into his 70s, despite battling heart issues, he continued to deliver remarkable characterizations in roles of varying sizes. His screen presence only seemed to strengthen rather than weaken with time, a clear indicator of an exceptional performer. He frequently outshone more prominent stars, as was evident opposite Meryl Streep in “Postcards From the Edge.” His acting talents often appeared to run deeper than some better-known names, as demonstrated opposite Tom Cruise in “The Firm.” In confrontations with formidable adversaries like Denzel Washington in “Crimson Tide” and Nick Nolte in “Under Fire,” there was a spark.

In 1993, he earned a second Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, recognition for his chilling portrayal of a ruthless sheriff within the critically acclaimed film “Unforgiven,” which won Clint Eastwood the award for Best Picture.

Whenever he found a slight opportunity, much like his performances in “Hoosiers,” “Mississippi Burning,” or “Another Woman,” he was always anything but forgettable.

In 1990, he faced some heart issues that temporarily derailed him. However, he quickly regained his stride with an exceptional guest appearance in Mike Nichols’ movie “Postcards From the Edge.” By the time of the release of “Unforgiven” in 1993, there was no doubt that he deserved another Oscar. In the following years, he delivered impressive performances in “The Firm” and “Geronimo.

In 1992, following a long hiatus, Kenneth Branagh graced the Broadway stage in Ariel Dorfman’s play titled “Death and the Maiden.

1995 saw him delivering outstanding performances on the big screen. In the submarine thriller “Crimson Tide,” he gave a top-notch leading role, and was equally impressive as the witty, scathing producer character in “Get Shorty.” He also played an engaging villain in Sharon Stone’s Western film “The Quick and the Dead.” The following year, he hit comedic gold as a rigid, right-wing U.S. senator in “The Birdcage.” In 1998, he teamed up with Paul Newman and Susan Sarandon to deliver powerful performances in Robert Benton’s noir film “Twilight.

In David Mamet’s “Heist” from 2001, Gene Hackman portrayed a seasoned jewel thief aiming for a major score in his final job. He also appeared as the questionable father attempting to mend fences with his family in Wes Anderson’s “The Royal Tenenbaums.” In addition to that, he played roles in three John Grisham adaptations, including “Runaway Jury,” and then decided to retire after the moderate comedy “Welcome to Mooseport” in 2004.

Born in San Bernardino, California, but raised in Danville, Illinois, Eugene Alden Hackman chose to join the Marine Corps at 16 years old, hiding his true age to do so. During his service, he was deployed to Shanghai, Hawaii and Japan. Despite having a fear of microphones, Hackman worked as both a DJ and news announcer for the radio station within his military unit.

Following his service in the military, he briefly pursued journalism at the University of Illinois and later moved to New York to learn radio broadcasting under the G.I. Bill. After working at various radio stations, he ventured to California where he attended acting classes at the Pasadena Playhouse. His debut role was “The Curious Miss Caraway,” featuring Zasu Pitts. However, neither he nor his classmate Dustin Hoffman were initially considered promising.

In 1956, he went back to New York and picked up a range of temporary jobs while also working in summer theater and learning from George Morrison. Later on Broadway, he played a role in Irwin Shaw’s “Children From Their Games” in 1963. Unfortunately, the play only ran for four performances, but it earned him the Clarence Derwent Award as the most promising new actor.

Following nearly ten years of acting, Hackman made his mark in Muriel Resnik’s “Any Wednesday,” sharing the screen with Sandy Dennis and Jason Robards Jr. He remained with this successful comedy for half a year before earning top-billing in Jean Kerr’s “Poor Richard.” Despite not being a box office success, it garnered him positive reviews nonetheless.

Director Robert Rossen recognized Hackman’s stage work and offered him a film debut in the minor role of “Lilith” in 1964. This opportunity paved the way for roles in movies like “Hawaii,” “A Covenant With Death,” “Banning,” and “First to Flight.” During the ’60s, Hackman fine-tuned his acting skills on television, appearing in shows such as “The U.S. Steel Hour,” “The Defenders,” “Naked City,” “The F.B.I.,” and “The Invaders.” He stood out in the 1968 CBS Playhouse production of “My Father and My Mother.” By that time, he had already earned an Oscar nomination for his work in “Bonnie and Clyde.

Hackman co-authored three novels featuring undersea archaeologist Daniel Lenihan: “Wake of the Perdido Star” (1999), “Justice for None” (2004) and “Escape From Andersonville” (2008). In 2011, he published a standalone novel titled “Payback at Morning Peak”.

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2025-02-27 11:47